Firefighters extinguish blaze at Deseret Industries plant

SALT LAKE CITY — A two-alarm fire at a Deseret Industries Manufacturing plant Thursday morning created a lot of smoke but did not result in any injuries.

A fire was reported about 7 a.m. at 1680 S. 1900 West at a plant where furniture and mattresses are manufactured. The fire was located in the hopper in the building outside the main structure, where sawdust is collected from furniture making, said Salt Lake City fire spokesman Jasen Asay.

About five employees were in the building at the time. All got out safely, he said.

The fire was contained to the hopper, but smoke filled the air ducts and set off emergency sprinklers, causing smoke and water damage throughout. After the fire was extinguished, fire crews spent a lot of time trying to ventilate the building without having to cut holes in the roof, Asay said.

It wasn't immediately known Thursday what ignited the sawdust. Investigators also checked the building's carbon monoxide levels before employees were allowed to go back in.